Newington PD Acquires Armored Vehicle

CHRISTOPHER HOFFMAN, Special to the Courant

NEWINGTON -- The BAE Caiman is a six-wheeled, all-terrain, roadside-bomb-proof armored vehicle designed to carry troops into combat in Afghanistan.

The Newington Police Department recently acquired a Caiman from the military at no cost through a surplus equipment program, Police Chief Richard C. Mulhall told the town council Tuesday. A Caiman would normally cost $733,000, he said.

"The vehicle is basically brand new," Mulhall said. "This obviously is something that I wouldn't ask for in my budget."

Mulhall said that the vehicle would be used primarily to evacuate civilians during emergencies. Local departments already share three smaller armored vehicles, but local police have to wait 30 to 45 minutes for them to arrive, he said.

That happened in May when police needed to evacuate a local apartment complex during a standoff, Mulhall said. The incident ended with the gunman's suicide.

"We all know that (30 to 45 minutes) is too long," Mulhall said. "We do have a need for this to extricate individuals. We think this is a valuable resource."

As the war in Afghanistan winds down, the military is offering surplus Caimans to police departments around the country, he said.

Town Manager John Salomone added that the Caiman, which can carry up to 12, is significantly bigger than the three armored vehicles the town shares with about 28 area municipalities. It's large enough to transport the department's entire SWAT team plus its equipment, a capability the other armored vehicles lack, Salomone said.

Salomon also noted that the vehicle has a high clearance, enabling it to get down roads blocked by fallen trees and debris, as happened during the severe storms of recent years.

"This thing can literally go over trees," he said.

Salomone called the vehicle a good addition to the department.

"It was a very good offer," he said. "It gives them a capability they don't have."

Mulhall asked the council Tuesday to authorize a bid waiver allowing the department to hire a specialist, Lenco of Pittsfield, Mass., to modify the vehicle for civilian use.

"I can't take this to my local garage," Mulhall said. "You take a plate off, it's 10,000 pounds."

The department needs to spend $54,365 to "civilianize" the vehicle, including eliminating gun ports, adding lights and installing a radio system, Mulhall said. The department will use money from its drug asset forfeiture fund to pay for the work, he said.

Once the modifications are done, the town's highway department will be able to maintain it, Salomone said.

The town has had the vehicle for several months, but needed time to figure out the best way to handle the modifications, Salmone said.

Councilwoman Elizabeth McDonald praised the acquisition of the vehicle, suggesting it might have been of use during the 2004 shooting incident that took the life of Master Police Officer Peter J. Lavery.

The council is expected to vote on Mulhall's bid waiver request at its next meeting.